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`I’ve been lucky enough in my many years of road testing to enjoy some great trips in a huge variety of A-class motorhomes, from relatively modest models to luxury leviathans from Concorde and Morelo. It’s the panoramic view out that, when done well, makes driving these top-of-the-range vehicles so pleasurable. Doubly so if you’re heading through spectacular scenery. Then, when you park up, it’s all the better if you’ve bagged a spot with a great view. That could be of Lake District fells or by a Mediterranean beach − either way, it becomes more ‘widescreen’ in an A-class. And it doesn’t have to be a big one. The Mercedes Hymer ML-I 580 (above) that we took to Denmark way back in 2015 still sticks in my memory for having a…
ID Buzz campervan set to steal the show Lovers of campervans, the great outdoors and live music are set to flock to the South of England Showground in West Sussex from 5 to 7 May as Warners Shows’ Campervan Campout takes place for the first time. As well as multiple dealers and converters showcasing a selection of new and pre-owned campervans for sale, local company, Love Campers, will exclusively unveil what it says will be the first UK conversion of Volkswagen’s funky ID Buzz, the fully electric van that was reviewed in our February issue − watch the video at motorhome.ma/review269 In addition to campervans, the shopping village will also be made of up of outdoor leisure retailers, artisan food and drink stands, local breweries and some of the finest…
HYMER pretty much invented the European A-class – incredibly, its first fully integrated motorhome appeared way back in 1972. In the UK, we were slow to catch on to this type of vehicle, but both Hymer and Pilote A-class models went on sale here in the mid-1980s. Since then, some brands have dipped in and out of the sector and, today, the only mainstream British A-class is from Auto-Trail (which can draw on the experience of its parent company, Trigano). Because so much extra design and engineering is involved in building an A-class, it’s always worth looking into a brand’s history with these vehicles. Experience counts for a lot here. Whatever make you look at, you’re likely to be spending around £10k to £15k more than for an equivalent low-profile,…
Adria Supersonic 780 SL IFyou’re spending £150k-plus on a brand-new A-class motorhome, we don’t blame you for wanting a three-pointed star on the front – it seems more appropriate than a Fiat badge at this level. The next decision will be which brands to consider and you might, justifiably, turn to the obvious options from Germany – Carthago or Hymer. Or, perhaps, you’ll look at Bürstner’s latest flagship Elegance with its clever Indus toilet system. Then there’s Frankia, with a whole host of trademark pluses, including rear-wheel drive and its garage tailgate door. But you don’t have to buy from a Teutonic marque and, arguably, the two rivals we have here add a little extra style into the equation. In the Slovenian corner we have Adria’s new range-topper, which it…
FACT FILE BASE VEHICLE Mercedes Sprinter PRICE FROM Around £115,000 (price to be finalised) BERTHS 2 TRAVEL SEATS 2 LENGTH 7.15m WIDTH 2.02m HEIGHT 2.90m GROSS WEIGHT 3,880kg PAYLOAD 480kg ALSO CONSIDER IH 690 RD RP Explorer 2 WE make no excuses for including the M-Star in this A-class special issue. Firstly, at an anticipated cost of £115,000, it’s in the same territory as some A-class motorhomes. Secondly, as the most upmarket van conversion ever to come from a major UK maker, it’s competing for similar buyers. And, perhaps most importantly, we couldn’t wait another month to bring you our review of this exciting newcomer. At over 7m long, the M-Star is a big step up in size, as well as price, from Auto-Sleepers’ familiar Peugeot-based campervans. It’s also the…
CARTHAGO certainly offers plenty of choice. In its C-line range alone there are 10 models each on Fiat and Mercedes chassis. From 7.39m up to 8.78m, they all require a C1 driving licence – and a careful perusal of the options list, which can quickly add £40k-plus to the cost. That might start with the Silverline exterior but standard is the typical brand DNA, such as the way the roof and side walls join in a smooth curve. The toothy chromed grille is another marque identifier – and a feature of this latest New Generation model. Driver comfort is assured by the high-backed Aguti captain’s chairs and visibility is a forte of all Carthago A-classes, thanks to the steeply sloping dashboard design. Only the aftermarket screen for the reversing camera…
